Self-aligning ratcheting clasp
A clasp comprising a securing rail and a clasp body. The securing rail comprises an elongate rail comprising a rail top, a pair of opposing clasping flanges extending lengthwise of the rail and a plurality of locking teeth spaced and extending lengthwise of the rail. The clasp body is configured to receive the clasping flanges of the elongate rail and to secure the clasp body to the rail against radial movement relative to the rail. At least one engaging tooth is operatively associated with the clasp body to engage the first plurality of locking teeth to secure the clasp body against movement in at least one axial direction lengthwise of the elongate rail with the clasping flanges received in the clasp body.
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This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/497,208, filed Jun. 15, 2011, entitled “Self-Aligning Ratcheting Clasp,” which is hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure is directed toward closures for pocket flaps, and more particularly to a self-aligning ratcheting clasp.
BACKGROUNDVarious pocket flap closures are now in use in a variety of applications, including military applications. Typically these closures include a rail attached to the pocket and a clasp body attached to the flap, with the clasp body being configured to snap onto the rail at a select location lengthwise of the rail to secure the flap to the pocket at a desired degree of tightness. One such flap closure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,479. The particular closure disclosed in the '479 patent does not provide a ratcheting engagement between the clasp body and the rail whereby the pocket can be tightened by sliding the clasp body relative to the rail in a lengthwise direction. The closure disclosed in the '479 patent also fails to provide a convenient mechanism for releasing the clasp body from the rail when desired.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discussed above.
A first aspect is a clasp which comprises an elongate track and a clasp body. The elongate track comprises an elongate rail comprising a top, a pair of opposing clasping flanges extending lengthwise of the rail, a plurality of locking teeth spaced and extending lengthwise of the rail and an alignment trough in the top extending lengthwise of the rail. The clasp body comprises a clasp frame. A pair of opposing jaws are operatively associated with the clasp frame and each of the opposing jaws are configured to receive one of the clasping flanges of the elongate rail. The opposing jaws are further configured to bias towards each other with the clasping flanges received therein to nest the clasping flanges between the opposing jaws and to secure the clasp body to the rail against radial movement relative to the rail. An alignment blade extends from the clasp frame and is configured to be received in the alignment trough with the opposing jaws receiving the clasping flanges. An engaging tooth is operatively associated with the clasp frame to engage at least one of the plurality of locking teeth to secure the clasp body against movement in at least one axial direction lengthwise of the engagement rail with the clasping flanges nested between the opposing jaws. In one embodiment, the alignment blade extends from the clasp frame between the opposing jaws a distance sufficient to be received in the alignment trough without the opposing jaws receiving the clasping flanges. In another embodiment, two pairs of opposing jaws are spaced relative to the clasp body to receive lengthwise spaced portions of the clasping flanges of the elongate rail. In at least one embodiment the engaging tooth and the plurality of locking teeth are configured for ratchet engagement, whereby the clasp body can slide one axial direction but not an opposite axial direction relative to the elongate rail with the clasping flanges nested between the opposing jaws. Embodiments may include a pair of opposing levers, each lever being operatively associated with an opposing jaw and pivotably attached to the clasp body, the levers being configured such that upon being squeezed together a first distance the jaws released the clasping flanges.
Another aspect also comprises an elongate track and a clasp body. The elongate track comprises an elongate rail comprising a base, a pair of opposing clasping flanges extending lengthwise of the rail spaced from the base and a plurality of locking teeth spaced and extending lengthwise of the rail. The clasp body comprises a clasp frame and a pair of opposing jaws operatively associated with the clasp frame. Each of the opposing jaws is configured to receive one of the clasping flanges of the elongate rail. The opposing jaws are further configured to bias towards each other with the clasping flanges received therein to nest the clasping flanges between the opposing jaws and to secure the clasp body to the rail against radial movement relative to the rail. An engaging tooth is operatively associated with the clasp frame to engage at least one of the plurality of locking teeth to secure the clasp body against movement in at least one axial direction lengthwise of the elongate rail with the clasping flanges nested between the opposing jaws. A pair of opposing levers are provided, with each lever being operatively associated with the jaw and the clamp frame, the levers being configured so that upon being squeezed together a first distance the jaws release the clasping flanges.
Yet another aspect also comprises an elongate track and a clasp body. The elongate track comprises an elongate rail comprising a base, a pair of opposing clasping flanges extending lengthwise of the rail spaced from the base and a plurality of locking teeth spaced and extending lengthwise of the rail between each of the clasping flanges and the base of the rail. The clasp body comprises a clasp frame and a pair of opposing jaws operatively associated with the clasp frame. Each of the opposing jaws is configured to receive one of the clasping flanges of the elongate rail. The opposing jaws are further configured to bias towards each other with the clasping flanges received therein to nest the clasping flanges between the opposing jaws and to secure the clasp body to the rail against radial movement relative to the rail. At least one engaging tooth is operatively associated with each jaw to engage at least one of the plurality of locking teeth to secure the clasp body against movement in at least one axial direction lengthwise of the elongate rail with the clasping flanges nested between opposing jaws.
A further aspect of the invention is a clasp comprising a securing rail and a clasp body. The securing rail comprises an elongate rail comprising a rail top, a pair of opposing clasping flanges extending lengthwise of the rail and a plurality of locking teeth spaced and extending lengthwise of the rail. The clasp body comprises a clasp frame and is configured to receive the clasping flanges of the elongate rail and to secure the clasp body to the rail against radial movement relative to the rail. At least one engaging tooth is operatively associated with the clasp body to engage the first plurality of locking teeth to secure the clasp body against movement in at least one axial direction lengthwise of the elongate rail with the clasping flanges received in the clasp body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONUnless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, dimensions reaction conditions and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”.
In this application and the claims, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, use of “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. Moreover, the use of the term “including”, as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included”, is not limiting. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more than one unit unless specifically stated otherwise.
A self-aligning ratcheting clasp 10 is shown in
As depicted in
The track 16 is shown in greater detail in
Referring to
Referring to
A first embodiment of the clasp body 18 depicted in
A cover 72 having serrations 74 and a grip surface 76 has a pair of opposing grasping flanges 78 on its underside. The serrations 74 and grip surface 76 facilitate manipulation of the cover 72 but may be omitted or replaced with similar grip enhancing features.
When assembled, the axles 62 are received in the receptacles 64 leaving the first and second pairs of opposing jaws 54, 56 in their opposed configuration. The U-spring 66 is placed with each arm of the U received in one of the spring slots 68 and the base of the U received in the frame spring slot 70. In this manner, each of the pairs of opposing jaws 54, 56 are biased toward each other by the action of the U-spring 66. The clasp body 18 is maintained in its assembled state by the cover 72 with the opposing grasping flanges 78 snapped into engagement with retaining surfaces 80, 82.
The clasp frame 52 further includes an attachment bar 84 extending between supports 86 at a trailing end of the clasp frame 52. This attachment bar can be used for attaching the clasp body to, for example, a nylon webbing as illustrated in
The multi-piece clasp body 50 is shown in operative association or attached to a securing rail 16 in
In use, the single piece clasp body 90 functions much like the multi-piece clasp body 50. Referring to
The clasp body and the track of the various embodiments can be made of any suitably resilient and durable thermoplastic, metal, composite or other suitable material. Suitable plastics include but are not limited to nylon.
Various embodiments of the disclosure could also include permutations of the various elements recited in the claims as if each dependent claim was a multiple dependent claim incorporating the limitations of each of the preceding dependent claims as well as the independent claims. Such permutations are expressly within the scope of this disclosure.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a number of embodiments, it would be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in the form and details may be made to the various embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and that the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to act as limitations on the scope of the claims. All references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety by reference.
Claims
1. A clasp comprising:
- a securing rail, the securing rail comprising an elongate rail comprising a rail top, a pair of opposing clasping flanges extending lengthwise of the rail, a first plurality of locking teeth spaced and extending lengthwise of the rail and an alignment trough in the top extending lengthwise of the rail; and
- a clasp body comprising, a pair of opposing jaws operatively associated with the clasp body, each of the opposing jaws being configured to receive one of the clasping flanges of the elongate rail, the opposing jaws being further configured to bias toward each other with the clasping flanges received therein to nest the clasping flanges between the opposing jaws and to secure the clasp body to the rail against radial movement relative to the rail and an alignment blade extending from the clasp body, the alignment blade being configured to be received in the alignment trough with the opposing jaws receiving the clasping flanges, at least one engaging tooth on a distal end of a resilient flap extending from clasp body biased by the resilient flap into engagement with the first plurality of locking teeth to secure the clasp body against movement in at least one axial direction lengthwise of the elongate rail with the clasping flanges received in the clasp body and a pair of opposing levers, each lever being operatively associated with a jaw and the clasp body, the levers being configured so upon being squeezed together a first distance the jaws release the clasping flanges so that the clasp body can be moved radially relative to the clasping flanges.
2. The clasp of claim 1 further comprising the clasp body being integrally molded from a resilient plastic.
3. The clasp of claim 2 further comprising the resilient plastic causing the jaws to bias toward each other.
4. The clasp of claim 1 wherein the at least one engaging tooth and the plurality of locking teeth are configured for ratchet engagement, whereby the clasp body can slide one axial direction but not an opposite axial direction relative to the elongate rail with clasping flanges nested between the opposing jaws.
5. The clasp of claim 1 wherein the alignment blade extends lengthwise of the clasp body and is configured to be received lengthwise of the alignment trough.
6. The clasp of claim 5 wherein the alignment blade comprises first and second alignment blade segments with a gap therebetween.
7. The clasp of claim 6 wherein the engaging tooth resides in the gap between the first and second alignment blade segments.
8. The clasp of claim 1 wherein the resilient flap extends lengthwise of the of the clasp body in alignment with the alignment blade.
9. A clasp comprising:
- a securing rail, the securing rail comprising an elongate rail comprising a rail top, a pair of opposing clasping flanges extending lengthwise of the rail, a first plurality of locking teeth spaced and extending lengthwise of the rail and an alignment trough in the top extending lengthwise of the rail; and
- a clasp body comprising, a pair of opposing jaws operatively associated with the clasp body, each of the opposing jaws being configured to receive one of the clasping flanges of the elongate rail, the opposing jaws being further configured to bias toward each other with the clasping flanges received therein to nest the clasping flanges between the opposing jaws and to secure the clasp body to the rail against radial movement relative to the rail and an elongate alignment blade extending lengthwise along and from the clasp body, the alignment blade being configured to be received lengthwise in the alignment trough with the opposing jaws receiving the clasping flanges, at least one engaging tooth operatively associated with the clasp body biased into engagement with the first plurality of locking teeth to secure the clasp body against movement in at least one axial direction lengthwise of the elongate rail with the clasping flanges received in the clasp body and a pair of opposing levers, each lever being operatively associated with a jaw and the clasp body, the levers being configured so upon being squeezed together a first distance the jaws release the clasping flanges so that the clasp body can be moved radially relative to the clasping flanges.
10. The clasp of claim 9 wherein the alignment blade comprises first and second alignment blade segments with a gap therebetween.
11. The clasp of claim 10 wherein the engaging tooth resides in the gap between the first and second alignment blade segments.
12. The clasp of claim 9 wherein the engaging tooth extends from a distal end of a resilient flap extending from the clasp body, the engaging tooth being biased by the resilient flap into engagement with the first plurality of locking teeth.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 13, 2012
Date of Patent: Jan 19, 2016
Patent Publication Number: 20120317759
Assignee: Magpul Industries Corporation (Louisville, CO)
Inventors: Grady Barfoot (Denver, CO), Michael T. Mayberry (Denver, CO), Richard Fitzpatrick (Longmont, CO), Brian Nakayama (Arvada, CO), Eric Nakayama (Broomfield, CO)
Primary Examiner: Robert J Sandy
Assistant Examiner: Matthew Sullivan
Application Number: 13/495,240
International Classification: A44B 19/00 (20060101); A41F 1/00 (20060101); F16B 2/22 (20060101); A44B 11/25 (20060101);